284 GENERAL DIRECTIONS. 



mlnation. The most natural method is to spread the soil out on a flat 

 surface in a hothouse and encourage the weed seeds to germinate by the 

 aid of heat and moisture. The soil should be spread out quite shallow, 

 and in a few days' time the seeds that are likely to prove most trouble- 

 some will have germinated. The weeds that one finds most noxious are 

 quick in germinating, and will be rendered harmless by this method. 

 They are principally Lamium, Plantago, Kagweed, Grasses, Draba, An- 

 themis, Rumex, Portulaca, Acalpyha, Oxalis and Tritolium ; but the list 

 varies with different localities. Burning or steaming the soil is often 

 resorted to, but for seed sowing I prefer the other method as more likely 

 to rid the soil thoroughly of the common, troublesome weeds. Soil in- 

 tended for use in connection with raising Ferns from spores should be 

 treated even more carefully, in order to destroy every vestige of vegeta- 

 ble life. To do this thoroughly the soil should beboiled for a reasonable 

 length of time, and afterward dried in the sun. Seedlings which from 

 their nature require pricking off (that is putting around the outer edge 

 of the soil in pots, or in rows, in boxes) shortly after the seed leaves are 

 developed, should be raised in seed vessels which have at least half their 

 depth devoted to drainage. Most of this should consist of pieces of 

 broken pots, or cinders, covered over with some rough material, such as 

 half-decayed leaves, to prevent the soil washing down. In very shallow 

 seed vessels, whether pans or boxes, the bottom part should be covered 

 with rough screenings, with finer soil above, and pressed moderately 

 firm. In covering the seeds the old rule is to cover the seed with its own 

 thickness in soil, and if followed out few mistakes will be made. The 

 covering should not be of such a nature as to bake readily; finely 

 screened sphagnum moss mixed with sand is a good substance with 

 which to cover almost any medium-sized seeds that take a reasonably 

 short time in germinating, as it retains moisture without imparting too 

 much to the soil below. Very small seeds, such as those of Begonias 

 and Gloxinias, do not need any covering; but to preserve a humid 

 atmosphere around them, or to furnish the conditions necessary for 

 germination, they must be covered with something which prevents a 

 too rapid evaporation of moisture. This is supplied by a pane of glass, 

 which should be kept on until the seed leaves appear. It need not fit 

 tightly, so as to preclude the possibility of a slight circulation of air; 

 where this is the case the seedlings are apt to die from fungous attacks, 

 even before the seed leaves are developed. Where glass is used as a cover- 

 ing for small seeds the soil ought to be moderately moist before sowing. 

 Thickly sown seed is an evil to be guarded against, a crowded box or pan 

 of seedlings, whether they be Ferns or flowering plants, is next to useless, 

 because shortly after germinating the seedlings begin to get weak and 

 never afterward make such healthy plants as those which get a chance 

 to form short, stocky growth— enough at least to enable one to handle 

 them easily during the operation of pricking or potting oft. Seeds, as 

 soon as germinated, as a rule, should not be kept in a shaded place, as 

 then they are apt to get "drawn;" that is, too much length between 

 the surface of the soil and the seed leaves. Most seedlings in the early 

 part of the season will stand all the sun they can get. This especially 

 applies to seedlings of such plants as Phlox Drummondii, Madagascar 



